Purefoods signs former MBA discovery of year

Purefoods made a big steal two weeks before the 2004 PBA Rookie Draft as it reached an agreement with former MBA Discovery of the Year awardee and now PBL star June Peter Simon.

Meanwhile, Shell may pass up on Ranidel de Ocampo and instead get James Yap as the No. 1 pick overall in the coming draft if it closes an ongoing trade deal with another team involving a big man.

"If we get a big man before the draft day, we might go for a small man in the draft," said Shell board representative Bobby Kanapi.

Simon, a former Davao Eagle in the defunct MBA and currently strutting his stuff with Fash in the PBL, was still thinking on appealing his case to join the PBA draft on Jan. 16 when Purefoods’ offer came.

The six-foot-flat guard from North Cotabato is listed in the PBA registry as an unrestricted free agent as someone applied his name in the PBA draft three years ago. Still unknown in the basketball circle then, Simon was not picked by any team.

"Gusto pa sanang mag-appeal sa PBA para makasali sa draft, pero dumating ang offer sa Purefoods. Siyempre tinanggap na niya," a source close to Simon told The STAR.

Reports said the Purefoods organization was very happy with its acquisition of Simon, believing the young cager could fill in the team’s need at the backcourt.

Simon runs second behind Gary David in the PBL Platinum Cup MVP derby. He averages close to 15 points a game.

"He’s got a solid shooting accuracy, he can leap and is comfortable playing the point and the off-guard spots," a source quoted Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio as describing his prized catch.